Patching systems



Oct. '22, 1957 v G. c. lzENoUR 2,810,864

PATCHING SYSTEMS Filed July 1o, 1955 z8/3o 32 7 lL,.104 @esq 326 i INVENToR.

n Gaona: C. /ze/afoL/A7 ATTORNEY United States Patent O par.

PATCHING SYSTEMS George C. Iacnour, Haven, Conn., assignor to Centnry Lighting, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 10, 1953, Serial No. 367,175 13 Claims. (Cl. 317-11) This invention relates to patching systems.

A patching system comprises a support, e. g. a panel, having a plurality of jacks each of which is connected, usually through a control device of some sort, to a source of power. The system further includes a plurality of plugs which usually lighting loads. When it is desired to energize a given load in a predetermined manner, as with the aid of some specific voltage regulator, the plug associated with that load is inserted in, i. e. patched to, the jack corresponding to the selected type of voltage regulation.

Patching systems are characterized by the fact that the jacks are hotj i. e. are at operating voltage when no plugs are coupled therewith, so that immediately upon the insertion of a plug voltage will be applied to the load.

in existing patching systems when a plug is inserted in a jact sparking occurs as contact is made. Moreover, when the plug is withdrawn from the jack an arc ashes across the separating electrical contacts.

lt is an object of my invention to provide a patching system which avoids the ditliculties of hot patching arising from the presence of voltage on the jack at the time of coupling or uncoupling.

It is another object of my invention to provide a patching system of the character described which neither sparks upon coupling of the jack and plug nor arcs when they are uncoupled.

lt is a further object of my invention to provide a. patching system of the character described which requires less maintenance and is less dangerous to personnel than a hot patching system.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the device hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. l is a sectional view through a patching panel constructed in accordance with the present invention and schematically showing typical associated electric circuits;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. l, the same illustrating the plug and jack in fully coupled position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the plug and jack as they appear when interengaged but not fully coupled; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken substantially along the lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 2.

In general I carry out my invention by providing a plug that is connected to an electric load, e. g. a lamp load, and a jack that is connected to a power source, e. g. a voltage regulator. Combined with the plug and jack is a secondary control means physically aliliated with the jack and governing the operation of a remotely thrown primary switch, e. g. a mechanical or electronic relay, in

are individually connected to different loads,

ice

the power circuit to the jack whereby operation of the remotely thrown switch is a function of the coupling of the plug and jack, the remotely thrown switch de-energizing the jack when the plug is in the jack but is not fully coupled therewith.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 1G denotes a cold patching system constructed in accordance with my invention. Said system includes a panel 12 of insulating material which supports a plurality of jacks, only two of which 14a, 14b are shown here. Each jack is adapted to have a plug, two of which 16a, 16b are illustrated, coupled therewith.

ln a typical installation embodying my invention all of the jacks may be connected to different voltage regulators of the same general type. However, to show the flexibility of the system I have illustrated the jack 14a associated with one type of voltage regulator and the jack 14h associated with a dierent type of voltage regulator, My invention, however, operates in essentially the same fashion regardless of the type of voltage regulation.

More specically, the upper jack 14a in Fig. l is connected by a pair of lead lines 18, 20 to a voltage regulator 22 that is fed through a lead line 24 from one bus 26 of a source 28 of power. The other bus 30 is connected by a lead line 32 to a lamp load schematically indicated by a lamp symbol 34 which is connected by a lead line 36 to the plug 16a. By way of example the regulator 22 constitutes a rheostat. It is customary for more than one jaclt to be connected to each regulator.

It will be seen that if the lead lines 18, 20 were permanently joined the load 34 would be activated as soon as the plug Mrz was inserted in the jack 14a. This arrangement obviously would be subject to all the dii'lculties of the existing hot patching system.

The jack 14h is connected by a lead line 38 to a pair of back-to-back gas-type electron-discharge devices 40, 42 which constitute the output side of a regulatable power circuit such as is shown, described and claimed in my United States Letters Patent No. Re. 23,575 for Lighting Control Circuits dated November ll, 1952. The gasdischarge devices are fed by a lead line 44 from a bus 46 of a source 48 of electric power. The firing of the gas-discharge devices is controlled by a phase-shift bridge network 50 under the influence of a selectively variable input voltage 52 as set forth in detail in said reissue Letters Patent. A transformer 54 is fed through a pair of lead wires 55, 56 and return wire 57. The other bus 58 of the source 4S of power is connected by a lead line 59 to a lamp load 60 which is connected by a lead line 62 to the plug 16h. If the lead lines 55, 56 were permanently joined, the load 60 would be activated as soon as the plug 16b was inserted in the jack 14a.

Both jacks are of the same construction so that only one of them will be described in detail. Each jack includes a conventional electrically conductive receptacle of the type which is designed to be engaged by a plug. Pursuant to my invention each jack further includes a secondary control means which governs a remotely thrown mechanical or electronic switch in the jack circuit.

More particularly and by way of example the receptacle portion of the jack 14a constitutes a sleeve 64 (see Fig. 3) of electrical insulating material whose forward end is eX- ternally threaded and screwed from the back into a tapped opening 66 in the patching panel 12. The rear end of the sleeve is internally threaded to admit the forward threaded end of an electrically conductive tube 68 the rear end of which is closed. Said tube is provided with a wide transverse groove 70 whose base intersects t'ne interior of the tube. A cylindrical split spring 72 embraces the tube, said spring having a depressed at 74 which is received in the groove 70. The lat protrudes slightly into the tube so as to frictionally engage a jack,

2,810,864 l f o e. g. the jack 14a, when the same is inserted in the tube. The closed rear end ol the tube is tapped for a terminal screw 76 by means of which the lead line 18 is fastened to the jack. The jack as thus far described is entirely conventional.

The secondary control means basically comprises a pair of rcontacts which are physically aliiliated with the jack and are so positioned that they will be moved from one state to another, e. g. from closed to open position,

as a plug is being inserted in the jack and will revert to their original, i. e. united, state when the plug is fully coupled with or entirely out of the jack.

ln the form of my invention shown herein, the secondary control means is denoted by the reference numeral 78 and constitutes a momentary snap-acting switch of a type which per se is conventional. Said switch is housed in a casing Sii and includes a projecting actuating nger 82. The linger is biased outwardly by a spring (not shown) to an outermost extending position, this being the normal (idle) condition of the switch. When the finger is depressed, this usually being a comparatively slight amount, the switch is actuated thereby.

Within the casing are a pair of contacts which either are normally open or normally closed, the contacts being normally closed in the form of my invention now being described. In other words, as long as the actuating linger 82 is in idle position the contacts will remain closed; and if the nger is depressed a predetermined slight amount, the contacts will snap to open position. Upon release of the finger the contee will re-snap to their normal closed position.

The sleeve 64 is formed with a transverse slot 84 Whose base communicates with the interior of the sleeve. The switch 78 is mounted in said slot with the actuating linger S2 projecting into the ease of the sleeve and in the path of travel of a plug entering the jack. The linger is disposed forwardly of the electrically conductive portion 68 of the jack so that when the plug'is in physical but not electrical engagement with the jack the linger will be contacted by the plug. The tip of a plug entering the jack will force the linger toward actuated position. The switch is so mounted that the degree of movement of the actuating linger is sulicient to change the state of the switch from idle to actuated as long as the linger is engaged by a plug. Accordingly, as the plug is being inserted in or withdrawn from the jack the momentary snap-acting switch is changed from idle to actuated condition.

Further pursuant to my invention each plug 16a, b is provided with an annular groove 85 which, in the fully coupled position of the plug in the jack, is in registry with the actuating finger 82 of the momentary snap-acting switch. The groove is suliiciently deep to permit the actuating linger to spring back to its idle position. Thereby when the plug is fully coupled the switch automatically will be restored to idle position with its contacts closed but until this position is reached the switch will remain actuated. The switch is held in the indicated location by any suitable means as, for example by screws 88.

As noted heretofore the secondary control means governs the operation or a remotely thrown primary switch in a jack circuit. The switch associated with the jack 14a is a mechanical switch; that is to say, a relay 90 having contacts that physically move toward and away from one another. Although any form of relay may be used, for the sake of simplicity I have shown a mercury relay. Said relay, which is of standard construction, comprises a pool 92 of mercury enclosed in a steel jacket 94 which constitutes one power terminal of the relay. The other power terminal of the relay comprises a steel plunger 96. A ceramic cup 98 is located within the mercury pool concentrically of the plunger 96. Said cup is carried by a magnetic core (not shown) in the lield of a solenoid 100. A spring (also not shown) biases the cup upwardly towards the plunger.

Energization of the solenoidpulls the cup down, away from the plunger. When the cup is depressed, this corresponding to energization of the solenoid and being the position illustrated in Fig. l, the mercury pool bridges the space between the plunger and the steel jacket. When the solenoid is de-energized the spring forces the cup upwardly causing it to act as a barrier and breaking the pool of mercury in two between said plunger and jacket.

The lead line l hereinbefore referred to which runs trom the incl: lea is connected to one power terminal, i. e. the plunger, and the lead line 2t) to the other power terminal, i. e. the steel jacket, so that as long as the relay is actuated the power terminals are joined through the pool of mercury. However', as soon as the relay is dethe how of power is broken.

One of the solenoid terminals is connected by a lead line i132 to a low voltage source i104 of electric power. The other solenoid terminal is connected by a lead line Een* to one of the terminals lil of the momentary snap-acting switch 78. The other terminal il@ of said switch is connected by a lead line H2 to the other terminal of the source of low voltage electrical power.

lu the operation of the patching system with reference to the jack lzz, let it be assumed that the plug lea has been withdrawn. The actuating linger 32 of the momentary snap-acting switch 73 will be in its full projecting, i. e. idle, position so that the switch contacts will be in their normal closed position and the solenoid litt) will be actuated whereby the relay 9i) is closed. Accordingly, power is applied'from the bus 26 through the regulator 22 and relay 9@ to the jack lila.

evertheless, when the plug 16a is thrust into the jack no sparking will take place. This is due to the engagement between the tip of the plug and the actuating linger, as shown in Fig. 3, when the plug lirst is inserted in the jack andbefore the plug reaches the tube 68. Said plug pushes back the actuating linger and changes the switch 78 fromits normally closed position to an open position. In the open position the solenoid is deenergized to permit the ceramic cup to spring up and break the liow of power through the relay thereby de-energizing the jack14a. Thus, as the plug is being inserted into the jack power temporarily is removed from the jack and it is not restored until the plug is thrust fully home in the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the actuating nger 82 having snapped back to its idle position permits the contacts of the momentary snap-acting switch to reclose thereby reclosing the mercury relay and applying power to the electrically conductive portion of the jack which now islinfelectrical-engagement with the plug.

Likewise, when the jack is being withdrawn from the plug initiation of the withdrawal action will depress the lactuating finger to remove power from the jack while the jackand 'plugstill are in electrical contact, and this power will not be restored until the plug has cleared the electrically conductive portion of the jack.

The terminals of the snap-acting switch in the jack 14b are connected to the lead lines 55, 56. As long `as these lead lines Vare joined through the switch, i. e. as long as the switch is idle, in-phase control voltage is applied to the grids of the gas-lilled electron discharge tubes v40, 42 and power will be fed from said tubes in accordance with the regulation determined by the selectively Variable voltage 52. When a plug is introduced into the jack 1.4b the normally closed contacts of the momentary snap-acting switch associated therewith will open thus causing the Voltage of the tubes 40, 42 to be out of Vphase with respect to their anodes and thereby preventing liringrof said tubes, whereby during introduction of a plug into the jack 14]: or withdrawal of a plug therefrom no current will liow from the regulated power circuit.

It will beappreciated that the gas-discharge tubes kact as electronic relays with the grid circuits constituting the triggers which correspond to the solenoid of a mechanical relay and with the filament-plate circuits constituting the power circuits which correspond to the load contacts of a mechanical relay.

For safety and convenience the plugs are provided with conventional insulating handles 114.

It thus will be seen that I have provided a device which achieves all the objects of my invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A cold patching system including a jack, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically aliated with the jack and electrically governing the operation of said switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open said switch, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

2. A cold patching system including a jack having an electrically non-conductive forward portion and an electrically conductive rear portion, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically ailiated with the jack and electrically governing the operation of said switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element at the forward portion and extending into the path of travel of the plug in the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open said switch, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

3. A cold patching system including a jack havling a front electrically non-conductive sleeve and a rear electrically conductive tube, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically ailiated with the jack and electrically governing the operation of said switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element at the sleeve and extending into the path of travel of the plug in the sleeve, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open said switch, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

4. A cold patching system including a jack, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary mechanical relay having a pair of normally closed contacts and an electrical control element, circuit means electrically connecting said contacts in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically atiiliated with the jack and electrically governing the operation of the control element, said means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug operating said control means to actuate the control element of the relay so as to open the relay contacts, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

5. A cold patching system including `a jack, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary mechanical switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically aililiated with the jack and electrically governing the operation of said switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open said switch, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

6. A cold patching system including a jack, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown primary switch having an electric control member and a pair of normally closed contacts, circuit means electrically connecting said contacts in series with the jack, `a momentary secondary control means physically afliated with the jack, said secondary control means having a pair of contacts, circuit means connecting the contacts of the secondary control means with the control member of the primary switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating the contacts of said `secondary control means to operate the control member of the primary switch so as to open the primary switch contacts, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

7. A cold patching 'system including a jack, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown primary switch having a pair of normally closed contacts and an actuating solenoid, circuit means electrically connecting said contacts in series with the jack, 'a momentary secondary control means physically ailliated with the jack and including a pair of contacts, circuit means connecting the contacts of the Isecondary control means with the solenoid, said secondary control means including `an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating the contacts of the secondary control means to operate the solenoid so as to open the contacts of the primary switch, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

8. A cold patching system including a jack having an insulated forward portion and an electrically conductive rear portion, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown primary switch including a normally closed pair of contacts and an electric control member, a momentary secondary `control means, means mounting said secondary control means adjacent the insulated forward portion of the jack, said secondary control means having a pair of contacts, circuit means connecting the contacts of the 'secondary control means with the control member of the primary switch, said control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact with the jack, said 'actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating the contacts of the secondary control mean's to operate the control member of the primary switch so as to open the primary switch contacts.

9. A cold patching system including a jack` a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically ailiated with the jack and electrically governing the operation of said switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open said switch, said plug having an annular groove in registri. with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

l0. A cold patching system including a jack having a front electrically non-conductive sleeve and a rear electrically conductive tube, a jack support, a plug, a remotely thrown normally closed primary switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control switch mounted on said jack and having an actuating element extending into the interior of said sleeve in the path of travel of the plug entering the jack, said secondary control switch electrically governing the operation of the primary switch, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating the secondary control switch to open the primary switch, said plug having an annular groove in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

ll. A cold patching system including a plurality of live jacks, a jack support, a plug at the end of a load cable, a plurality of remotely thrown normally closed primary switches, circuit means electrically connecting each switch in series with a diilerent jack, a plurality of momentary secondary control means, each means being physically afliated with a different jack and electrically governing the operation of the associated switch, each secondary control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the associated jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the associated jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open the associated switch, said plug hav ing an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the associated jack.

l2. A cold patching system including a `live jack, a jack support, la plug on the end of a load cable, a remotely thrown normally closed primary switch, circuit means electrically connecting said switch in series with the jack, a momentary secondary control means physically atliliated with the jack .and electrically governing the operation of said switch, said secondary control means including an actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and being disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means to open said switch, said plug havingran indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack.

13. In combination in a cold patching system, a jack adapted when idle to be electrically connected to a source of electric power, a plug adapted to be on the end of a load cable, a momentary secondary control means including an actuating element which governs operation of the control means by physical movement only, means mounting said secondary control means adjacent the jack with the actuating element extending into the path of travel of the plug entering the jack and disposed to be engaged by the plug when the plug is in physical contact but out of electrical contact with the jack, said actuating element upon engagement with the plug actuating said secondary control means and thereby adapting the latter to open a normally closed primary switch in series with the jack, said plug having an indentation in registry with said actuating element when the plug is fully coupled with the jack. v

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,880,824 Copenhaver Oct. 4, 1932 2,235,074 Kesselring Mar. 18, 194.1 2,405,769 Stoner Aug. 13, 1946 

